Lubricating system for drill heads



guanto@ Wifi) H Av VV. T. SEARS LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR DRILL HEADS Filed Dec. 8, 1920 ///l/l/l/l/l/l/II%II//////l May 6 1924w Patented lvl-ey d, @Zele A WILLAIl/D T. SEARS, F MONTCLIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TU' IilLESBEL-llENT-PB COMPANY, GF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPRATN 0F NEW LUBEICATNG SYSTEM\ FOR SHELL EEABS.

Application led December 8, 1920. Serial No.

To all whom t may concern: f

Be it known that l, WILLARD T. SEARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, inthe county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Lubricating Systems for Drill Heads, 'of which the following is a specication.

. This invention relates to drilling machinesl and particularly to a lubricating system 'for the drill spindle and its operating mechanism within the drill head. in accordance with the invention a reservoir is provided in the low'er portion of the head casing and by mea-usci a small pump, preferably driven trom the spindle operating mechanism, the oil is forced from the reservoir to the upper portion of the drill head from whence it is permitted to descend by gravity to the drill spindle and other operating parts within the drill head The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved flood lubricating or oilingsystem oi this general type.

Another object of the yinvention resides in the provision of a special lubricating pump particularly adapted Jfor use in connection with the lubricating system outlined, such pump being ci the reciprocating piston type and the piston thereof being adaptedto yield under a predetermined pressure whereby to prevent the building up et a iiuid pressure beyond a certain predetermined point.

The details oi' the invention will appear in the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein: i

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the drill head and the supporting arm of a radial drillingniachine, taken approximately on the line '1w-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a iraginentary horizontal section thereof talren approximately on the line 2-'2 of Fig., 1.

3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig'. 2 and showing particularly the lubricating pump.

While the invention herein has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing in connection with a radial drilling machine lof the general type shown in Patent 1,368,294 granted to me February 15th, 1921, it will lbe understood that the same is applicable to drilling machines of other types Without departing from the spirit of the invention. In

the drawing, 1 designates the drill head supporting arm. of a radial drillingmachine, 2 the drill head or saddle slidably mounted thereon, 3 the drillspindle and 4 the arm shaft operatively connected to the drill spindle throughv the bevel gears 5, 6 and 31 The feeding of the drill. spindle is accomplished through the mechanism illustrated and more specifically f described in my aforesaid patent.` A

As above pointed out, the lubricating system comprising the vpresent invention includes an oil reservoir provided in the lower portion of the drill head and il.lustratevt in the drawing' at 8. l preferably form the reservoir in the drill head adjacent lthe lower spindle bearing 9, the reservoir err-tending below the upper end ci' said bearing whereby the oil level, as illustrated in Fig. 1, will be below the top'of the bearing. From the reservoir the oil is adapted to loe forced through a pipe or duct 10 to the upper portion of the drill head, preferably to a channel or reservoir l1 surrounding the drill spindle preferably above the spindle bearing 12 thereof. As seen in Fig.. l, the oil delivered to a central opening 13 in the spindle from which it overiiows'into` the channel l1 and is also delivered through the holes 1d and 15 to lubricate the spindle and its bearings. From channel 1l. there preferably entends pipes or ducts 16 leading downward to the various operatingparts of the head. @ne of these ducts is illustrated being adapted to lubricate the spindle driving gearsl and another as being adapted to lubricate the spindle feeding mechanismv lt will be understood however that such ducts may be 'proided to lead the lubricant wherever do-a sire As seen particularly Figs, 2 and 3, the oil pum is mounted in a bracket 17 secured to the side of the head, a horizontal duct 18 anda vertical duct 19 forming a communication between the reservoir and the pipe 10. Ball check valves 20 and 21 adapted to cooperate with the pump are provided in the duct 19, pins 22 being adapted to limit the upward movement of the balls. 23 illustrates a sight feed dial through which the flow of oil may be observed.

The pump comprises a cylinder 2d termed in the bracket 17. A piston 25 is'adapted to be reciprocated within the cylinder by ineens of a plunger ber 2@ telescopicelly we A extends through the piston and plunger' and is adapted to work in slots 29 in the bracket 17 and piston 25 whereby the piston and plunger are held against angular movement. The piston and plunger are operated in thel working direction preferably from the spindle driving mechanism and are illustrated herein as being operated 'from a cam 3G on the spindle gear 7 engaging an anti-friction roller 3l on the outer end of the plunger. 'A relatively weak compression spring 32 in the bottom of the cylinder 2li engages the piston and is adapted to normally keep the roller 3l in engagement with the gear 7 and thereby operate the piston and plunger in the idle stroke direction.

It is believed that the operation of the lubricatin system and the several parts thereof wi l be clear from the above description. It should be understood, however, that the circulation of the lubricant is continuous, the interior ofthe head casing being so formed that the oil from the several operating parts thereof dra-ins back into the reservoir 8 to be used over again inthe continuous lubricating process. As heretofore noted, I preferably form the reservoir 8 in such a position relative to the spindle bearing 9v that the oil level will be below the top of such bearing. By this construction the oil is securely contained within the reservoir without leakage thereof.

The spring 27 of the pump is stronger than the spring 32 and in the normal operation thereof, only the latter spring is com-I pressed. I-Iowever, should the oil passage become obstructed or for any other reason should the oil from the pump exceed a certain predetermined pressure, the spring 27 is adapted to yield, thus permitting the plunger 26 to reciprocate within the piston 25 instead of the piston reciprocating within the cylinder 24. Under such condition, the pump is operative only to maintain the predetermine pressure allowed by the strength of the spring 27. It will therefore be seen that the pump acts as a safety device to prevent the building up of too great an oil pressure in the lubricating system. It should be understood that the oil reservoirs the oil ducts leading to andfrom the same are not necessarily limited to the construction and arrangement shown in the drawing but that the several parts of the lubricating-system may be modified within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

l. In a drillingY machine the combination' of drill head, a drill spindle mounted in Lacasse rotating the spindle and feeding the same axially, and lubricating means for the spindie and its operating mechanism compr1s1ng an oil reservoir in the head beneath the said mechanism, a duct leading therefrom to the upper portion of the head and a pump for forcing the oil through the duct to the upper portion of the head from whence 1t is adapted to flow by gravity to the spindle and operating parts within the head and back into the reservoir.

2. In a radial drilling machine, the com bination of a horizontal arm, asupport slidably mounted thereon, a tool spindle mounted in the support, mechanism within the support for rotating the spindle and feeding the same axially, and lubricating means for the spindle and its operating mechanism comprising an oil reservoir in the head beneath the said mechanism, a duct leading therefrom to the upper portion of the head. a pump on the head f for forcing the oil through the duct to the upper portion of the head, and means for distributing the oil therefrom to the spindle and operating parts within the head, the oil being adapted to drain back into the reservoir.

In a drilling machine the combination of a. drill head, a drill spindlemounted in the head, gearing within the head for rotating the spindle and feeding the same axially` and lubricating means for the' spindle and its operating mechanism comprising a lower oil reservoir in the head, an upper reservoir in the head`r a duct leading from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, a pump for forcing the oil through the duct to the upper reservoir and duct means for distributing the oil therefrom to the spindle and operating parts within the head, the oil being adapted to drain back into the lower reservoir.

4. In a drillingvmachine the combination of a. drill head, a drill spindle mounted vertical-ly in lower and upper bearings in the head,4 mechanism within the head for rotating the spindle and feeding the same axially, and lubricating means for the spindle and its operating mechanism' comprising a lower oil reservoir in the head extending lbelow the upper end of the lower bearing, a duct leading therefrom to the upper portion of the head and a -pump for .forcing the oil.

from the duct to the upper portion of the head from whence it is adapted to flow by gravity to the spindle and operating parts within the head and back into the reservoir.

5. In a drilling machine the combination of a drill head, a drill spindle mounted vertically in lower and upper bearings in the head, gearing Withinthe head for rotating and feeding the spindle, and lubricating means for the spindle and gearin comprising an oil reservoirv in the hea adjacent the lower bearing, a duct leading therefrom voir, a pump to a point adjacent the upper bearing and a pump for forcing the oil through the duct to the upper bearing from whence it is adapted to flow by gravity to the spindle and gearing within the head and back into the reservoir.

.6. In a drilling machine the combination of a drill head, a drill spindle mounted vertically in lower and upper bearings in the head, mechanism within the head for rotating the spindle and feeding the same axially, and lubricating means' for the spindle and its operating mechanism comprising an oil reservoir in the head adjacent the lower bearing, an upper reservoir in the head adjacent the upper bearing, a duct leading from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, a pump for forcing the oil through the duct to the upper reservoir and duct' means for distributing the oil therefrom to the spindle and the mechanism within the head.

7. In a drilling machine the combination of a drill head, a drill spindle mounted vertically in lower and upper bearings in the head, mechanism within the head for rotating the spindle and feeding the same axially, and lubricating means for the spindle and its operating mechanism comprising an oil reservoir in the head adjacent the lower bearing, an upper reservoir in the head adjacent' the upper bearing, a duct leading from the lower to the upper reseron the head for forcing the oil through the duct to the upper reservoir and a plurality of ducts leading from the upper reservoir to the spindle and operating parts within the head.,

8. In a drilling machine the combination of a drill head, a drill spindle mounted vertically in lower and upper bearings in the head, mechanism within the head for rotating the spindle and feeding the same axially, and lubricating means for the spindle and its operating mechanism comprising a lower oil reservoir in the head extending below the upper end of the lower bearing, an upper reservoir in the head surrounding the upper bearing, a duct leading from the lower to the upper reservoir, a pump for forcing the oil through'the duct to the upper reservoir and duct means for distributing the oil therefrom to the spindle and operating parts withi'n the head f 9. Ina radial drilling machine,lthe combination of a horizontal arm, a driving shaft extending therealong, a support slidably4 the spindle Aand the mechanism within thehead.

10. In a radial drilling machine, the combination of a horizontal arm, a driving shaft extending therealong, a support slidably mounted on the arm, a drill spindle in the support, gearing operatively connecting the shaft -to the spindle for rotating the latter, mechanism driven from the shaft for feeding the spindle axially, and lubricating means for the spindle and its operating mechanism comprising a lower reservoir in the support, an upper reservoir inV the support, a duct leading vfrom the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, a pum for forcing the oil through the duct to the upper reservoir and means for conducting the oil therefrom to the spindle.

In testimony whereof, I hereto affix my signature.

LARD 'It SEARS. 

